Last-minute BN candidate for Larut says he is unfazed by seasoned opponents

IPOH, Nov 2 — Mohd Shafiq Fhadly Mahmud, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate who will be replacing Datuk Mohammad Kazim Elias for the Larut parliamentary seat, said he is ready to face anyone in the battle for the seat.

The Umno Larut division Youth information chief said that what is at stake right now is not the candidate being fielded, but the dignity of the party.

“In 2018, the people gave the mandate to BN, but was betrayed. This is the opportunity for us to prove that the people are still with BN.

“I am sure that on November 19, BN will be the best party to guarantee the stability and prosperity of our beloved country,” the 37-year-old told reporters when met at Hotel Casuarina Meru here.

Earlier, when unveiling Perak BN’s candidates for GE15, its chairman and caretaker mentri besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad announced that Mohd Shafiq will be replacing the popular Muslim preacher after the latter bailed out mere hours after being named as the BN hopeful for Larut.

Mohd Shafiq, a petroleum engineer by profession, said that he was a bit shocked with the announcement as he was supposed to be contesting the Kubu Gajah state seat which is under the Larut constituency.

“I was informed via a phone call at around 7am today that Ustaz (Kazim Elias) has withdrawn, and I might be gearing up for the seat.

“I haven’t talked to Kazim Elias yet. With God’s grace, I hope that we can sit down together,” he said.

Mohd Shafiq, who is also the BN chief coordinator, hopes that the voters in Larut will give him the mandate to represent them as it would allow him to prove that a local would serve the constituency better.

Mohd Shafiq will be facing incumbent Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin from Perikatan Nasional, who previously ran for Umno on a BN ticket in GE14 before defecting to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

He said that his underdog status does not dampen his spirit in taking on more experienced politicians.

“I will carry the spirit of the Larut machinery. They have been working hard and not just for this election.

“But since we lost in 2018, we are ready and it is time for us to prove that the seat will return to BN although we won it legitimately in GE14 but were betrayed later,” he said.